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Process Technology

Industrial Water Reuse Systems

Treat wastewater to process water quality for cooling tower makeup, boiler feed, process washing, and irrigation — reducing freshwater consumption by 70-95%.

What is Water Reuse?

Water reuse treats industrial wastewater to a quality suitable for specific process applications rather than discharge. Reuse reduces freshwater consumption, lowers effluent discharge volumes, and cuts water requirements. The required treatment level depends on the reuse application: irrigation requires basic filtration; cooling towers need hardness and TDS control; boiler feed demands near-pure water. A typical reuse train includes biological/chemical conditioning and treatment, filtration, RO/NF, and disinfection. Multi-barrier design ensures reliability.

70-95% Recovery

Most industrial wastewater streams can achieve 70-95% water recovery with appropriate treatment technology selection.

Efficiency Improvement

Water purchase, discharge fees, and energy requirements reduced by 40-70%. Typical project benefits 2-4 years.

Supply Security

Reduces dependence on municipal or surface water supplies, protecting against drought and scope increases.

ESG Compliance

Demonstrates sustainability commitment. Supports regulatory compliance and green certifications.

Process Steps

Step-by-step breakdown of the treatment process from influent to effluent.

01

Pre-Treatment

Screening, equalization, and DAF remove solids, fats, and oils. Protects downstream membranes and biological processes.

02

Biological/Chemical Treatment

Biological MBBR or chemical AOP reduces COD and BOD to levels acceptable for reuse. Target COD <50 mg/L for most reuse.

03

Filtration

Media filtration, ultrafiltration, or cartridge filtration removes suspended solids and protects RO membranes. SDI <3 required.

04

Membrane Desalination

RO or NF removes dissolved salts, hardness, and trace organics. TDS reduced from 2,000 to <200 mg/L for cooling towers; <50 for boilers.

05

Disinfection & Distribution

UV or chlorine disinfection prevents biofouling in reuse piping. Treated water stored and distributed to reuse points with online quality monitoring.

Typical Performance

70-95%
Water recovery
<50
TDS mg/L reuse
2-4
Year project benefits
40-70%
Efficiency improvement

Equipment Used in This Process

Explore the equipment components that make this process effective.

Where This Process is Applied

Cooling Towers

TDS <500 mg/L, hardness <100 mg/L makeup water for evaporative cooling.

Boiler Feed

Near-pure water TDS <50 mg/L, silica <0.5 mg/L for steam generation.

Process Washing

Treated water reused for vehicle washing, equipment cleaning, and floor washdown.

Irrigation

Nutrient-rich treated water for landscaping and agricultural irrigation.

Related Processes & Technologies

Process Fundamentals & Design

This treatment stage is engineered to achieve specific contaminant removal targets while providing stable, predictable performance across variable inlet conditions. Design parameters are calculated from wastewater characterisation data, regulatory requirements, and site-specific constraints including footprint, energy availability, and operator capability.

Process Optimisation

Design validated by CFD modelling and pilot testing to confirm performance guarantees.

Mechanical Reliability

Equipment selected for 20-year design life with minimal wearing parts and easy access.

Chemical Efficiency

Automated dosing and feedback control minimise reagent consumption and sludge production.

Compliance Assurance

Online monitoring and data logging demonstrate continuous consent compliance.

Design Parameters

Design Flow10 – 5,000 m³/h (application specific)
Inlet VariabilityDesigned for 1:3 peak-to-average flow ratio
Removal Efficiency85 – 99% depending on target contaminant
Hydraulic RetentionCalculated from kinetic constants and safety factors
Power Consumption0.5 – 5.0 kWh/100 m³ (process dependent)
Chemical DoseAuto-controlled based on online analysers
Sludge Production0.2 – 1.5 kg DS/kg contaminant removed
MaterialsSS304, SS316L, or carbon steel with coating

Integration with Treatment Train

No treatment stage operates in isolation. This process is designed to receive conditioned influent from upstream stages and deliver effluent quality suitable for downstream processes. Hydraulic and organic loading rates are balanced across the complete treatment train to prevent bottlenecking and ensure overall plant efficiency. Our engineers model the complete flowsheet to optimise Capital expenditure and Operating expenditure across the plant lifecycle.

Upstream Protection

Screening, equalisation, and pre-treatment protect this stage from damage and overload.

Downstream Conditioning

Effluent quality ensures downstream biology, filtration, or disinfection performs optimally.

Recycle Streams

Reject streams, filtrate, and centrate are routed back to appropriate upstream points.

Need This Process for Your Application?

Our engineers design and commission complete treatment systems including all equipment, automation, and commissioning support.

Multimedia Filter — Technical Library

For the depth-filtration step in this process we use multimedia filters with graded anthracite/sand/garnet beds. The technical detail behind sizing, media specification, backwash hydraulics and field troubleshooting lives in a dedicated library — pick the topic:

Industries We Serve

Our expertise spans multiple industries with sector-specific water treatment solutions.